Essay on Living with Bipolar Disorder

Submitted By Ariel-Troyer
Words: 850
Pages: 4
Open Document
Bipolar Disorder affects as many as 5.7 million adults a year in the United States. Living with Bipolar Disorder is challenging and mystifying at times. The exhilarating highs and destitute lows contribute to poor decision making, confinement, and even suicide. Manic Depression (another name for BD) is a mood malady, and the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Myself, as well as celebrated persons like Winston Churchill, Carrie Fischer, and even Fredrick Nietzsche suffer[ed] from this highly stigmatized disease. There are ups and downs but they can be regulated and controlled for the people diagnosed to live a surprising and full filling life. Bipolar disease is a roller coaster of emotions from your heart but the mind is responsible for these mood swings. Bipolar Disorder marks mostly the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The chemicals that are responsible for happiness, impulsivity, sleep cycles, and sexuality (just to name a few) are here. Norepinephrine and Serotonin inconsistencies are a big chunk of BD issues. When these chemicals are not regulated correctly by the brain, it can influence our behavior and moods. If we are not receiving the correct amount of each of these ‘feel good chemicals’, the results are astounding. The manias (the highs) leave you feeling elated and overconfident to the point of hubris. Prickliness and irritability disturbs me during a manic day. Feeling jittery and ‘wired’ is also a symptom. Conversation becomes rapid and wanton, while impulsiveness runs wild. Over sexuality plagues the afflicted and sleep becomes needed less and less. During the manic phase, the affected make poor sexual choices and participate in almost dangerous behavior. The opposite is true for the depression portion of the disease. Insomnia or over sleeping, laziness and anxiety affect same person whose happiness was so intense just days before. Agoraphobia coupled with difficulty concentrating is a problem for me, also you add in low energy and that is a recipe for disaster. Not all BD sufferers are extreme with highs and lows. There is also Hypomania which is not as severe.
There have been many medications over the years to help normalize the elements that cause our happiness. These medications are called Mood Stabilizers. Lithium was developed in the 60s, and remains one of the most popular medications for BD today. It affects mostly manias however, and leads to lethargy, which just adds to the depressive portion of the disease. I have found success in Effexor XR. This medication specifically affects moods and keeps me sane. I have taken Effexor for about 2 years and in that time I have accomplished an incredible amount of things and am very happy with this medication. Where I used to fall into a low time and be dejected for weeks on end, now I bounce back faster by tenfold. This medication does influence the body into mania vs. melancholy. As an alternative to laying on the couch, I start projects, throw frequent dinners, and have started my own home cleaning business. The hardest thing about living with bipolar disorder is remaining amendable and asking for help. My fiancé is also bipolar and we have a cyclical rhythm in our lives that we were unable to find with anyone else. When one of us is blue we pick them up off the ground and illustrate to each other all we have
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Living with Bipolar Disorder

Normal Nuts Essay example

know he also suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Mandel). A common misconception in society is that someone with a mental illness cannot function normally in society and needs to be locked up in an institution. It is often forgotten that mental illnesses are in fact, actual medical conditions and not just a word used to label crazy people. Some mental illnesses that people have stigmas about are Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. In actuality people with mental…

Words 987 - Pages 4

Bipolar Disorder: a Deeper Understanding Essay

Bipolar Disorder: A Deeper Understanding Brandy Barnum ENGL106-1302B-210 6/21/2013 Abstract The term Bipolar Disorder is commonly used amongst psychologists and is being diagnosed more often in recent years. People everywhere in the world are getting treated for this “disease” based on symptoms that potentially all of us experience in our lifetime – periods of depression and anxiety, followed by periods of irritability and agitation; but the difference is, those diagnosed may have them more…

Words 800 - Pages 4

Bipolar Disorder Essay

Bipolar Disorder also known as manic depressive disorder is associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. When depressed, there may be feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and loss of interest most activities. When the mood shift occurs in the other direction, feelings may be euphoric and full of energy. Mood shifts may occur as little as a few times a year, or as often as several times a day. In some cases, Bipolar Disorder causes symptoms of depression…

Words 787 - Pages 4

Bipolar As A Mental Illness

Bipolar As a Mental Illness Bipolar is a mental illness, which affects individuals from different age groups, diverse backgrounds and of different genders. Karl Leonhard generated a new definition for “manic depression” by referring to the condition as bipolar disorder. Leonhard posited that the name befitted the disorder because bipolar patients display two different moods: the depressive and manic conditions. Naturally, normal individuals have a single personality that defines character, but people…

Words 1981 - Pages 8

Dealing With Mental Issues: Bipolar Disorder

Dealing with mental issues: Bipolar Disorder Living a normal life means being able to hold an normal job, go to school and even having functional relationships with others and live by themselves. However, with all of the options available with medication and therapy now, why wouldn’t people who suffer from bipolar disorder be able to live a (normal) life? Even after they start medication and therapy, there are often still problems. When someone who is bipolar enters a phase, they tend to feel…

Words 1419 - Pages 6

Bipolar Disorder Research Paper

Bipolar Disorder is a condition in which the mood is shifted and fluctuated in energy and activity levels that can make day-to-day living unfavorable. It is a serious mental illness and if left untreated it can unmine career prospects, destroy relationships, and affect academic performance. Medical News Today states that “An estimated 2.9 percent of Americans have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and 83 percent of cases are classed as severe.”. You can be diagnosed with the disease at any age, but…

Words 486 - Pages 2

Essay on bipolar within family life

Bipolar Within Family Life 11/12/13 Isabella Smith “bipolar affects family life in many ways when mixed with drug and alcohol abuse”. Table of contents Title page 1 Table of contents 2 Abstract 3 Introduction…

Words 3297 - Pages 14

Bipolar Disorder Research Paper

Bipolar Disorder What Causes Bipolar Disorder? There is no single cause for bipolar disorder. Indeed, like all psychological disorders, bipolar disorder is a complex condition with multiple contributing factors, including: Genetic: Bipolar disorder tends to run in families, so researchers believe there is a genetic predisposition for the disorder. Scientists also are exploring the presence of abnormalities on specific genes. Biological: Researchers believe that some neurotransmitters, including…

Words 2744 - Pages 11

Bipolar Family Analysis

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition that involves manic highs and depressive lows, due to chemical imbalances in the brain. Mental illnesses are not only difficult for the person dealing with them, but for the people around them also. Specifically, parents who have bipolar disorder can have tremendous family issues, whereas their constant mood swings can place a strain on relationships within the household. Often, family members must deal with their own feelings of confusion, anger, and helplessness…

Words 1138 - Pages 5

Bipolar Disorder Research Paper

research paper looked at a mood disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. I looked at how challenging it can be to properly diagnose bipolar disorder in children but also show how important it is to catch it early and treat it properly. It can be difficult to diagnose a child with bipolar disorder because kids can move quickly from manic to depression while adults stay in that state for much longer periods of time. Birmaher B. said that it is difficult to diagnose bipolar in children because of the child’s…

Words 342 - Pages 2